MTA Renovation of 31 Subway Stations throughout the New York-Metro Area Gets Underway

[bobtehpanda]

I was thinking of the ones on the trackside wall, as well as the ones around the elevator shafts- those could have stayed.  I also find it odd that the current plan for the eastern mezzanine has been changed to elevators instead of escalators.  Demolishing already-existing provisions for escalators to the platform just seems like yet another waste.  Current elevator stations such as 168th St and 181st St are a pain in the ass.  Many trains I missed because none of those places had a damn escalator...   

 

The new entrance has to be ADA compliant, and elevators in general are more space efficient than escalators.

 

It's not as if escalators don't break around the system all the time.

[R10 2952]

Then they could've just mirrored the elevator arrangement that exists on the western part of the platform.  Partially demolishing an existing setup and digging a new shaft isn't the best strategy; if an escalator stops, it can still be used as stairs.  There was one time when two elevators were out at 181st Street simultaneously... in the summer.  It was hell in the form of a sweaty bottleneck.

They'd save themselves a lot of trouble if they just stuck to original designs instead of making breakneck changes.  10th Avenue, for example.  Adding a new station there in the near future will be a lot more difficult than if they had just built it in the first place. Considering how it'll cost twice as much as originally, that's beyond ridiculous. Yeah, Bloomberg should definitely have forked over some cash for the thing, but given the City's record of not contributing their fair share to NYCT, the TA should have had a Plan B for building the station in case the city failed to deliver. 

[MTA Bus]

I know that Chambers Street is supposed to receive elevators as part of the 100 Key ADA stations plan, so hopefully, they will make some rehabs with the elevator construction.

[Eric B]

There's a very simple reason why Chambers St was not included in this list of stations. Regardless of their current condition, all of the stations on this list are minor, nondescript stations with few exits and small mezzanines if any. They all fit into Cuomo's "get in, get the job done and get out" 6-12 month rehab projects. They are low-hanging fruit in terms of showing off the "new" methods of station renovations. Chambers St does not fit those parameters. The conditions of the station along with its importance as a transfer point to the Lexington Ave line would make sure its rehab would last well past those guidelines. Add to that the fact that Chambers St is a historical landmark and any renovation plans will get stuck in legal nonsense faster than you can say "rehab".

So basically, because the station is so special, is why it's being neglected in that condition for so long. 

[Art Vandelay]

The new entrance has to be ADA compliant, and elevators in general are more space efficient than escalators.

 

It's not as if escalators don't break around the system all the time.

I don't think that is necessarily true- Yes, a new entrance would trigger ADA compliance being necessary, but the ADA access could simply be an elevator added to the old entrance. 

 

Also. escalators simply do not provide ADA compliant platform access, regardless of their utility. 

[TheNewYorkElevated]

Now what about 57 St? That station opened with thm ugly refrigerator tiles so what now lol

Clearly they want the station to go to traditional IND tiling. It's an interesting stop. In fact, a scene of Beat Street was filmed there. 

 

Actually, does the Cuomo administration even know the station originally opened with those tiles? 

[bobtehpanda]

I don't think that is necessarily true- Yes, a new entrance would trigger ADA compliance being necessary, but the ADA access could simply be an elevator added to the old entrance. 

 

Also. escalators simply do not provide ADA compliant platform access, regardless of their utility. 

 

All of the alteration has to be accessible as well. So that is every component of the new entrance and everything it gives access to down to platform level. The old entrance doesn't necessarily have to be made wheelchair accessible, but in this case it already is.

[Art Vandelay]

All of the alteration has to be accessible as well. So that is every component of the new entrance and everything it gives access to down to platform level. The old entrance doesn't necessarily have to be made wheelchair accessible, but in this case it already is.

Only one of the new entrances at each new SAS station is being built with ADA compliance.  (96th is ADA compliant, 94th will not be, 86 is ADA compliant, 84th will not be, 72nd will be ADA compliant, 69th won't be. ) 63rd will be the only station compliant at both ends. 

 

Also, the plans for the new entrance at 68th Hunter college at 69th show the elevators being at 68th street only. 

[bobtehpanda]

Only one of the new entrances at each new SAS station is being built with ADA compliance.  (96th is ADA compliant, 94th will not be, 86 is ADA compliant, 84th will not be, 72nd will be ADA compliant, 69th won't be. ) 63rd will be the only station compliant at both ends. 

 

Also, the plans for the new entrance at 68th Hunter college at 69th show the elevators being at 68th street only. 

 

The part about 68 St proves my point; anything built *new* past 1990 must be wheelchair accessible. By altering the old entrance at 68 St, this is now the "alteration" with a "primary function" being made accessible. Nothing on the Lex exit at 63 St is really being altered, so it's not part of the "alteration" and its acccessibility does not count.

 

From the ADA:

 

 

 

Where the public entity is undertaking an alteration that affects or could affect usability of or access to an area of the facility containing a primary function, the entity shall also make the alterations in such a manner that, to the maximum extent feasible, the path of travel to the altered area and the bathrooms, telephones, and drinking fountains serving the altered area, are readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs, upon completion of such alterations, where such alterations to the path of travel or the bathrooms, telephones, and drinking fountains serving the altered area are not disproportionate to the overall alterations in terms of cost and scope (as determined under criteria established by the Attorney General).

 

Alterations to old stations must therefore be accessible. New stations or alterations do not necessarily have to be 100% accessible at every possible level, so long as you can still get the primary functions of a station (a mezzanine with ticket machines and an entrance).